Implementing electronic health records on a medical service trip improves the patient care process.
electronic medical records (EMR) systems
medical camp
medical scribe
patient care process
pharmacy
short-term experiences in global health
short-term medical missions
Journal
Frontiers in health services
ISSN: 2813-0146
Titre abrégé: Front Health Serv
Pays: Switzerland
ID NLM: 9918334887706676
Informations de publication
Date de publication:
2022
2022
Historique:
received:
02
06
2022
accepted:
11
08
2022
entrez:
17
3
2023
pubmed:
18
3
2023
medline:
18
3
2023
Statut:
epublish
Résumé
The efficiency of the patient care process of short-term medical service trips is often not assessed. The Gregory School of Pharmacy has organized annual medical camps in rural Uganda, however, the paper health records used for documentation and communication between stations have shown several limitations that hinder an optimal patient care process. Therefore, our objective was to implement an electronic health record system in these medical camps to improve the workflow and optimize the patient care process. An electronic health record system that functioned over a battery-operated local area network was developed and implemented. Patient health information was entered and reviewed at the different stations using mobile devices. The impact of electronic health records (used in 2019) on the patient care process was assessed using the number of patients served per physician per hour and the number of prescriptions filled per hour and comparing these to paper records (used in 2017). Electronic health records were successfully implemented and communication across stations was fluid, thus improving transitions. Importantly, 45% more patients were served per physician per hour and 38% more prescriptions were dispensed per hour when using electronic (2019) compared to paper records (2017), despite having a smaller team in 2019. Implementation of electronic health records in rural Uganda improved the patient care process and the efficiency of the medical camp.
Sections du résumé
Background
UNASSIGNED
The efficiency of the patient care process of short-term medical service trips is often not assessed. The Gregory School of Pharmacy has organized annual medical camps in rural Uganda, however, the paper health records used for documentation and communication between stations have shown several limitations that hinder an optimal patient care process. Therefore, our objective was to implement an electronic health record system in these medical camps to improve the workflow and optimize the patient care process.
Methods
UNASSIGNED
An electronic health record system that functioned over a battery-operated local area network was developed and implemented. Patient health information was entered and reviewed at the different stations using mobile devices. The impact of electronic health records (used in 2019) on the patient care process was assessed using the number of patients served per physician per hour and the number of prescriptions filled per hour and comparing these to paper records (used in 2017).
Results
UNASSIGNED
Electronic health records were successfully implemented and communication across stations was fluid, thus improving transitions. Importantly, 45% more patients were served per physician per hour and 38% more prescriptions were dispensed per hour when using electronic (2019) compared to paper records (2017), despite having a smaller team in 2019.
Conclusion
UNASSIGNED
Implementation of electronic health records in rural Uganda improved the patient care process and the efficiency of the medical camp.
Identifiants
pubmed: 36925860
doi: 10.3389/frhs.2022.960427
pmc: PMC10012798
doi:
Types de publication
Journal Article
Langues
eng
Pagination
960427Informations de copyright
Copyright © 2022 Maarsingh, Oyler, Tuhaise, Sourial, Nornoo, Moses and Rhodes.
Déclaration de conflit d'intérêts
The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.
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